Powered wheelchair guidelines

The following guidelines are used in Northumberland to determine suitability for the provision of a powered wheelchair from the NHS. They are based on criteria agreed by the Medical Consultants based at the three Regional Disablement Services Centres (DSC) at Newcastle, Carlisle and Middlesbrough and have been adopted across the Northern Region.

Clients will normally be assessed in their homes or at a local clinic before a decision is made about their suitability for further assessment. In Northumberland, all wheelchair users requiring further assessment have to travel to the DSC at Newcastle, where there is a range of chairs to try and the clinic team are expert in the assessment for safe use of a powered wheelchair indoors and outdoors.

Please note that only those people who qualify for indoor powered wheelchairs will be assessed for indoor/outdoor powered wheelchair provision.

Indoor Powered Wheelchairs

A powered indoor wheelchair may be provided for use in a client's own home and must enable the user to obtain a measure of independence which would otherwise be denied. It is not intended for outdoor use but use within the confines of the garden is acceptable. It is emphasised however that eligibility must be based on giving the user independence within the home and ability to use the chair in the curtilage of the home is incidental.

Guidelines of provision

  1. Suffering from a defect of the locomotor system or severe chronic lung or heart condition so that to all intents and purposes they are unable to walk
  2. Unable to self-propel a manual wheelchair effectively indoors.
  3. Able to derive some measure of independence in the home from using an electric indoor wheelchair.
  4. Have a long term or permanent need for this type of chair.

Outdoor powered wheelchairs

Attendant controlled powered wheelchairs are available for outdoor use to enable clients who need to be pushed outdoors to benefit in joint mobility within the local area of residence. This type of chair may be provided for patients who need to be pushed in a wheelchair outdoors but whose regular attendant is unable to do so.

Guidelines of provision

  1. The patient must be confined to a wheelchair for all forms of outdoor mobility. 
  2. The attendant must be experiencing difficulty in pushing the patient for one of the following reasons: 
    1. Some form of health disability - this could include the attendant's age factor (minimum attendant age 15 years). 
    2. The local topography is hilly.
    3. The weight of the patient is excessive in relation to the weight and size of the regular attendant.

The client's home must be assessed for safe storage and charging facilities, as well as safe access on to the public highway before issue of the equipment.

Dual purpose (indoor/outdoor) powered wheelchairs

Following a national decision to introduce new provision for dual purpose powered wheelchairs, this type of wheelchair may be provided. They can be used self operated by the patient both indoors and outdoors to enable greater independence inside and outside the home, but the main priority is for indoor use.

Guidelines of provision

Patients must be eligible for the powered wheelchair referred to in section (C) before consideration for this type of chair. The following additional criteria may also apply:

  1. Patients must have adequate field and acuity of vision to be safe on public roads.
  2. Have the ability to comply with DVLC requirements for motor vehicle drivers concerning epilepsy and other causes of loss of consciousness. 
  3. Should not require accessories, modifications or special seating outside of the range supplied by the powered chair manufacturer. 
  4. Comply with the manufacturers recommended occupant weight limit for the chair. 
  5. Have a residential environment which is compatible with the use of a dual purpose powered chair, and which includes a suitable storage area and power supply for battery charging.
  6. Have a local outside environment which is accessible by a dual purpose powered chair and compatible with its use.
  7. Have the capacity to derive significant improvement in their independence and quality of life through use of a dual purpose powered chair.

Once eligibility has been established patients will be reviewed at intervals to be determined by the Assessment Team, to ensure that there is continuing eligibility. Should the patient not continue to meet the criteria at the review, then arrangements will be made for the dual purpose chair to be withdrawn and reassessment of the patient's needs.